Renamo attacks military convoys in central Mozambique

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Renamo attacks military convoys in central Mozambique

1:19 CAT | 25 Feb 2016

In File Club of Mozambique

On Tuesday (February 23), Renamo attacked on Tuesday convoys escorted by the military on two sections of the EN1, injuring one person and damaging at least three vehicles, police have told Lusa.

At about 10 a.m., a column of 90 vehicles traveling towards Muxungué came under fire in Zove. One person was seriously injured and the victim’s vehicle suffered slight damage, PRM spokesman in Sofala, Sididi Paulo, told Lusa

An hour later, in Nfuza, more than 300 kilometres north on the second section of the EN1 where military escorts are operating, a convoy of 61 vehicles that traveling from Nhamapadza to Caia was shat at, causing minor damage to two cars.

A witness to this attack told Lusa that an escorting defense force armoured vehicle was immobilized in the attack, but police did not confirm this.

“These are the first attacks on military escorted convoys perpetrated by Renamo (Mozambique National Resistance) men,” the police spokesman said.

Defense and security forces “responded promptly to these attacks in both sections of the road” and remained in place to allow the escorts to continue on their way, Paulo said.

Defense and security forces last week imposed mandatory military escorts in the Save-Muxungué section, in Sofala province, because of a new wave of ambushes and attacks.

On Saturday, mandatory escorts were also reinstated on a Nhamapadza-Caia section of the EN1, where vehicles had also come under fire.

In the two sections, each of about one hundred kilometres, defense and security forces escort civilian vehicles, but reports speak of delays due to logistical problems.

The convoy system was previously in place on the Save-Muxungué section of the EN1 between 2013 and 2014, in the time of the last political and military crisis involving the government and Renamo. Despite the escorts, attacks left an unknown number of dead and wounded, including civilians, and caused serious damage to the economy were recorded.

Mozambique has been experiencing political instability for several with Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama threatening to seize power in six northern and central provinces of the country where his movement claims victory in the general elections of 2014.

This is the worst crisis in Mozambique since the Cessation of Military Hostilities Agreement was signed on 5 September 2014 by former President Armando Guebuza and the Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama.

However, political violence returned to Mozambique following the elections, worsening in recent months, with mutual accusations of attacks, kidnappings and assassinations.

Renamo recently requested the mediation of South African President Jacob Zuma and the Catholic Church in its stalled dialogue with the government.

The Mozambican president has reiterated his willingness to meet with the leader of Renamo, but Afonso Dhlakama believes that there is nothing to talk about, Frelimo having rejected a revision of the constitution to accommodate the new autonomous administrative units claimed by the opposition, and says that he will only negotiate after taking power in the centre and north of the country.

Source: Lusa